Shelton Hemphill

Shelton "Scad" Hemphill (March 16, 1906 – January 6, 1960) was an American jazz trumpeter whose career lasted from the mid 1920s through the late 1950s.

Born in Birmingham, Alabama, Hemphill was still in his teens when he played in the band of Fred Longshaw, which accompanied Bessie Smith on recordings in 1924–25. Also in 1924, at age 18, he enrolled at Wilberforce University in Ohio, and was a member of Horace Henderson's student band alongside Ted and Castor McCord. He moved to New York City late in the 1920s, where he played with Benny Carter and Chick Webb before joining the Mills Blue Rhythm Band, playing with this group from 1931 to 1937. He was in Louis Armstrong's band from 1937 to 1944 and Duke Ellington's from 1944 to 1949. In the 1950s, he played occasionally in New York City but left music due to mounting health problems later in the decade.

Shelton Hemphill died in New York City two months and ten days before his 54th birthday. His demise, along with that of blues singer Gladys Bentley, who died twelve days later, was noted in the syndicated column of music critic Ralph J. Gleason.

He is the father of Barry Shelton Hemphill, who spent a career as a vocal artist in the US Army Chorus, retiring at the rank of E-9. Barry Hemphill was also the Artistic Director of The Metropolitan Chorus in Arlington Virginia for 38 years (1977-2015), and has been the Conductor of the renowned Kennedy Center Messiah Sing along every December 23 in Washington, DC, for over 20 years.

Birth and Death Data: Born March 16, 1906 (Birmingham), Died December, 1959 (New York City)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1925 - 1946

Roles Represented in DAHR: trumpet, cornet

= Recordings are available for online listening.
= Recordings were issued from this master. No recordings issued from other masters.

Recordings

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Victor D5VB-0262 10-in. 5/11/1945 Caravan Duke Ellington Famous Orchestra Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, trumpet  
Victor D5VB-0265 10-in. 5/14/1945 In a sentimental mood Duke Ellington Famous Orchestra Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, trumpet  
Victor D5VB-0274 10-in. 5/16/1945 Every hour on the hour (I fall in love with you) Duke Ellington Famous Orchestra ; Al Hibbler Male vocal solo, with jazz/dance band instrumentalist, trumpet  
Victor D5VB-0518 10-in. 7/30/1945 Things ain't what they used to be Duke Ellington Famous Orchestra Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, trumpet  
Victor D5VB-0662 10-in. 10/8/1945 Tell ya what I'm gonna do Duke Ellington Famous Orchestra ; Joya Sherrill Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band instrumentalist, trumpet  
Victor D5VB-0663 10-in. 10/8/1945 Come to baby, do! Duke Ellington Famous Orchestra ; Joya Sherrill Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band instrumentalist, trumpet  
Victor D5VB-0949 10-in. 11/26/1945 I'm just a lucky so-and-so Duke Ellington Famous Orchestra ; Al Hibbler Male vocal solo, with jazz/dance band instrumentalist, trumpet  
Victor D5VB-0951 10-in. 11/26/1945 The wonder of you Duke Ellington Famous Orchestra ; Joya Sherrill Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band instrumentalist, trumpet  
Victor D6VB-2093 10-in. 7/9/1946 Rockabye river Duke Ellington Orchestra ; Duke Ellington Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, trumpet  
Victor D6VB-2095 10-in. 7/9/1946 Transblucency (a blue fog that you can almost see through) Duke Ellington Orchestra ; Duke Ellington Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band instrumentalist, trumpet  
Victor D6VB-2096 10-in. 7/9/1946 Just squeeze me (but don't tease me) Duke Ellington Orchestra ; Duke Ellington Male vocal solo, with jazz/dance band instrumentalist, trumpet  
Victor D6VB-2113 10-in. 8/26/1946 Back home again in Indiana Duke Ellington Orchestra Piano solo, with jazz/dance band instrumentalist, trumpet  
Victor D6VB-2114 10-in. 8/26/1946 Blue is the night Duke Ellington Orchestra Piano solo, with jazz/dance band instrumentalist, trumpet  
Victor D6VB-2115 10-in. 8/26/1946 Lover man (Oh, where can you be?) Duke Ellington Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with piano and female vocal solo instrumentalist, trumpet  
Victor D6VB-2116 10-in. 8/26/1946 Just you, just me Duke Ellington Orchestra Piano solo, with jazz/dance band instrumentalist, trumpet  
Victor D6VB-2117 10-in. 8/26/1946 Beale Street blues Duke Ellington Orchestra Piano solo, with jazz/dance band instrumentalist, trumpet  
Victor D6VB-2130 10-in. 9/3/1946 Swamp fire Duke Ellington Orchestra Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, trumpet  
Victor D6VB-2131 10-in. 9/3/1946 Royal garden blues Duke Ellington Orchestra ; Duke Ellington Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, trumpet  
Columbia W141369 10-in. 12/9/1925 At the Christmas ball Bessie Smith Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with cornet and piano instrumentalist, cornet  
Columbia W141370 10-in. 12/9/1925 Lonesome desert blues Bessie Smith Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with cornet and piano instrumentalist, cornet  
Columbia W141373 10-in. 12/9/1925 Squeeze me Bessie Smith Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with cornet and piano instrumentalist, cornet  
Decca 62328 10-in. 7/2/1937 Public melody number one Louis Armstrong and his Orchestra instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 62329 10-in. 7/2/1937 Yours and mine Louis Armstrong and his Orchestra instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 62330 10-in. 7/2/1937 Red cap Louis Armstrong and his Orchestra instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 62335 10-in. 7/7/1937 She's the daughter of a planter from Havana Louis Armstrong and his Orchestra instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 62336 10-in. 7/7/1937 Alexander's ragtime band Louis Armstrong and his Orchestra instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 62337 10-in. 7/7/1937 Cuban Pete Louis Armstrong and his Orchestra instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 62338 10-in. 7/7/1937 I've got a heart full of rhythm Louis Armstrong and his Orchestra instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 62339 10-in. 7/7/1936 Sun showers Louis Armstrong and his Orchestra instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 63775 10-in. 5/13/1938 So little time Louis Armstrong and his Orchestra instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 63776 10-in. 5/13/1938 Mexican swing Louis Armstrong and his Orchestra instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 63777 10-in. 5/13/1938 As long as you live Louis Armstrong and his Orchestra instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 63778 10-in. 5/13/1938 When the Saints go marchin' in Louis Armstrong and his Orchestra instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 63809 10-in. 5/18/1938 on the sentimentccl side Louis Armstrong and his Orchestra instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 63810 10-in. 5/18/1938 It's wonderful Louis Armstrong and his Orchestra instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 63811 10-in. 5/18/1938 Something tells me Louis Armstrong and his Orchestra instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 63812 10-in. 5/18/1938 Love walked in Louis Armstrong and his Orchestra instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 64907 10-in. 1/18/1939 Jeepers creepers Louis Armstrong and his Orchestra instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 64908 10-in. 1/18/1939 What is this thing called swing? Louis Armstrong and his Orchestra instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 65344 10-in. 4/5/1939 Hear me talkin' to ya Louis Armstrong and his Orchestra instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 65345 10-in. 4/5/1939 Save it pretty Mama Louis Armstrong and his Orchestra instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 65346 10-in. 4/5/1939 West End blues Louis Armstrong and his Orchestra instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 65347 10-in. 4/5/1939 Savoy blues Louis Armstrong and his Orchestra instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 65460 10-in. 4/25/1939 (I'm) Confessin' (that I love you) Louis Armstrong and his Orchestra instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 65461 10-in. 4/25/1939 Our Monday date Louis Armstrong and his Orchestra instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 65462 10-in. 4/25/1939 If it's good then I want it Louis Armstrong and his Orchestra instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 65463 10-in. 4/25/1939 Me and Brother Bill Louis Armstrong and his Orchestra instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 65824 10-in. 6/15/1939 Baby, won't you please come home? Louis Armstrong and his Orchestra instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 65825 10-in. 6/15/1939 Poor old Joe Louis Armstrong and his Orchestra instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 65826 10-in. 6/15/1939 Shanty boat on the Mississippi Louis Armstrong and his Orchestra instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 66984 10-in. 12/18/1939 Poor old Joe Louis Armstrong and his Orchestra instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 66985 10-in. 12/18/1939 You're a lucky guy Louis Armstrong and his Orchestra instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 66986 10-in. 12/18/1939 You're just a no account Louis Armstrong and his Orchestra instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 66987 10-in. 12/18/1939 Bye and bye Louis Armstrong and his Orchestra instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 67321 10-in. 3/14/1940 Hep cat's ball Louis Armstrong and his Orchestra instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 67322 10-in. 3/14/1940 You've got me voodoo'd Louis Armstrong and his Orchestra instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 67323 10-in. 3/14/1940 Harlem stomp Louis Armstrong and his Orchestra instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 67324 10-in. 3/14/1940 Wolverine blues Louis Armstrong and his Orchestra instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 67325 10-in. 3/14/1940 Lazy 'sippi steamer Louis Armstrong and his Orchestra instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 67648 10-in. 5/1/1940 Sweethearts on parade Louis Armstrong and his Orchestra instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 67649 10-in. 5/1/1940 You run your mouth, I'll run my business Louis Armstrong and his Orchestra instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 67650 10-in. 5/1/1940 Cut off my legs and call me Shorty Louis Armstrong and his Orchestra instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 67651 10-in. 5/1/1940 Cain and Abel Louis Armstrong and his Orchestra instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 93787 10-in. 11/16/1941 When it's sleepy time down south Louis Armstrong and his Orchestra instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 93788 10-in. 11/16/1941 Leap frog Louis Armstrong and his Orchestra instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 93789 10-in. 11/16/1941 I used to love you (but it's all over now) Louis Armstrong and his Orchestra instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 93790 10-in. 11/16/1941 (I'll be glad when you're dead) You rascal you Louis Armstrong and his Orchestra instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca DLA 1132 10-in. 1/12/1938 Satchel mouth swing Louis Armstrong and his Orchestra instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca DLA 1133 10-in. 1/12/1938 Jubilee Louis Armstrong and his Orchestra instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca DLA 1134 10-in. 1/12/1938 Struttin' with some barbecue Louis Armstrong and his Orchestra instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca DLA 1135 10-in. 1/12/1938 The trumpet player's lament Louis Armstrong and his Orchestra instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca DLA 2974 10-in. 4/17/1942 (Get some) Cash for your trash Louis Armstrong and his Orchestra instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca DLA 2975 10-in. 4/17/1942 Among my souvenirs Louis Armstrong and his Orchestra instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca DLA 2976 10-in. 4/17/1942 Coquette Louis Armstrong and his Orchestra instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca DLA 2977 10-in. 4/17/1942 I never knew Louis Armstrong and his Orchestra instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca N 2994 10-in. 1/2/1945 Midriff Duke Ellington Orchestra instrumentalist, trumpet  

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Hemphill, Shelton," accessed April 20, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/204407.

Hemphill, Shelton. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved April 20, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/204407.

"Hemphill, Shelton." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 20 April 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/204407

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